I been wanting to do a lesson on Verbs since I joined FW, but after I met my cowboy and after writing “The Wrote-Off Writer,” I wanted to do this lesson even more... so here it is.

I do understand that using the wrong verb tense is sometimes part of your particular “dialect,” and that is fine. For my cowboy, it's the vernacular; it's his language, and to me, it's rather endearing. It’s also okay to use for story dialogue. But for formal essays, and in general, for your fiction writing, it is NOT fine.

Verbs have three Principal Parts: Present, Past, and Past Participle.

I ask (Present)I asked (Past)I had asked (Past Participle)

I jumpI jumpedI had jumped

I loveI lovedI had loved

Get the idea?

Now, it’s all fine for regular verbs, which are the ones that you make into the past or past participle by adding “ed.” The trouble begins when you use irregular verbs... and knowing when to use the auxiliary verb “HAD.”

This is where my cowboy (real name = Dan) and the story “The Wrote-Off Writer” comes in. (And also a few of my other trapper / cowboy / farmer-type characters in a few of my stories.)

Because those people (and some of you) LEAVE OUT the auxiliary verb when using the PAST PARTICIPLE form of the verb

OR

ADD the auxiliary verb when using the SIMPLE PAST TENSE.

I had saw a bear. (Incorrect)I seen a bear. (Incorrect)

(My eyes are bleeding just typing that out for you.)

The most common mistakes I hear - in public - from people who SEEM to be otherwise well-educated are:

She HAD WENT to town.He HAD BROKE the cup.The dog HAD TORE up the flower bed.The cowboy HAD already RODE all over looking for the lost steer.

All the above are examples of ADDING an auxiliary with the PAST TENSE.

Here are some more:

The horse RUN around the field.They BEGUN the concert at 7 p.m.The choir SUNG four songs on Easter Sunday.

These examples show using the PAST PARTICIPLE WITHOUT an Auxiliary VERB

How do you know what to use? YOU HAVE TO LEARN IRREGULAR VERBS. Yes, memorize them.

Hey Caleb, I was just perusing and saw your answer. Ann's not been around for a while and perhaps you've taken your question to Jan already, but I wanted to answer just in case...I found several helpful sites: http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/ ... iciple.phpThe present participle is the base verb and an ingEX:I an walking.She is singing.

For one thing, the label is misleading. It's true that the present participle (in this example, rising) sometimes appears to indicate present time: She looks at the rising sun.

But when the tense of the main verb changes to the simple past, the time of the "present" participle seems to change right along with it:She looked at the rising sun.And when the main verb points to the future, the "present" participle again tags along:She will look at the rising sun.

The truth is, the present participle really doesn't mark time at all. That job is reserved for the main verb and its auxiliaries. And for this reason, many linguists prefer to use the term -ing form rather than present participle.

When a verb plus -ing does the job of a noun, it becomes a gerund.

Then again, when an -ing word is combined with the auxiliary verb to be, it functions as a verb:

The price of oil is rising.This construction is called the present progressive.

I hope it helps a little. If you do have more questions, and haven't asked Jan yet, I'd urge you to do so.

Last edited by Shann on Fri Dec 20, 2013 10:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Caleb, I've read your previous question and also your question from today. I'm not clear exactly what you're asking. I do know that Ann (the gal who started this grammar forum) is recovering from surgery, and is unlikely to stop by here. In fact, this particular forum isn't really active any more and should probably be taken from the boards.

However--if you can clarify your question, I'll give it a shot. Are you asking if your examples are grammatically correct? They are.

A lot of writers try to avoid forms of "to be" in their sentences. Your sentences could be rewritten without them, thus:

The wind howled.The leaves rustled.The dogs barked nervously.

You'd have to decide which version works best in your particular narrative.

Your longer examples are also grammatically correct. The -ing forms of the verbs you chose (shouting, raising, walking) give a sense of present action to past tense sentences, and they are very effective there.

I hope I've addressed your questions. If not, you could PM me, or you could move your questions to my Writing Forum where someone more grammatically knowledgeable could give them some attention.

Thank you for your response. I'm sorry as I was in the dark about Ann's surgery. I wish her well and speedy recovery. I mention the Present Participle( the -ing form) for common benefit/interest so that we can explore this area of grammar to develop our skills in writing. It is an open discussion. My sincere apologies if you have perceived it otherwise.

I don't know why, but I decided to check in here tonight from my hospital bed. Head is muzzy, and I am also unclear what you are asking, Caleb. If you give me a day or two, I will come back and try to answer.

One thing I will say, try not to over think grammar. If you are like me (and I think I speak for Jan), you already have a good grasp, but our natures want it "correct" and impeccably so. If you overthink, you may actually do your writing a disfavour.

What you wrote above is perfectly fine.

Ann Grover

"What remains of a story after it is finished? Another story..." Eli Wiesel